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Photo Gallery: Photographing People and Pets

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Sisters, Santa Barbara

Photograph by Catherine Karnow, National Geographic

Whether photographing loved ones, family pets, or strangers, thinking ahead is key to capturing the personality, emotion, or character of the subject you are photographing. In this gallery, get expert tips on understanding what you need to make the picture you want.

Here, a woman photographs her sister on the beach near Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara, California.

Photo Tip: If you practice with people you know, you’ll get more comfortable. Equally important, know your gear well enough to use it without thinking.

Mother and Baby

Photograph by Paul Damien, National Geographic

A mother cradles her three-month-old daughter.

Photo Tip: When photographing babies, look for close-up details. Experiment and fill the frame with a hand, a foot, or a tuft of hair. What may seem like overkill at the time will yield a batch of pictures you’ll look at with great affection.

Children at Play, Philippines

Photo Tip: When photographing children, look for the moment that expresses the feeling of the activity. If your kid is on a roller coaster, it’s the mixture of fear and joy as it begins to plummet. If she’s scored a goal, it is both the moment of the kick and the leap of celebration. Whatever it is, think about the activity and how best to portray it.

House Cat, Ontario

Photo Tip: If your animal is black and fills most of the frame, your meter will want to overexpose. If it’s white, it will underexpose. Take a reading off something in the scene that is the same as neutral gray.

Woman With Dog, Bologna

Photo Tip: The best way to make street photos is to wander around, get lost, and be open to the life and relationships passing in front of you. Sometimes the hardest part is overcoming shyness with strangers. Be friendly and ask permission to photograph people—and most will be happy to indulge you.

Country Singer, Nashville

Photograph by Will van Overbeek, National Geographic

Country singer Shawn Conway pauses with a date outside Layla's in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo Tip: When shooting environmental portraits, scout the location and make mental notes of the clothes your subjects wear, the tools they use, and all the elements that are part of that aspect of their lives.